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Nonprofits: Why you should stop trying and start doing

Are you achieving your mission – or only trying?

Last month, I read an article advising women to eliminate the word “just” from their vocabulary.

The author explains why the word was bothering her:

I am all about respectful communication. Yet I began to notice that just wasn’t about being polite: It was a subtle message of subordination, of deference. Sometimes it was self-effacing. Sometimes even duplicitous. As I started really listening, I realized that striking it from a phrase almost always clarified and strengthened the message.

I’m guilty, and I’ve been conscious of it ever since.

In the same way, I’ve noticed a problem many nonprofits have.

There are some phrases you find on organizations’ “About” page or in their mission statement.

Working to…

Striving to…

Helping to…

Do you see where I’m going?

These phrases weaken your claim. They make you sound less effective.

Here’s why you should consider removing those words.

It’s whiny – “We’re working so hard!”

It’s passive – “Well, we’re helping…”

It’s fudging – “Can we really claim to be doing something?”

Ask yourself: does your mission matter?

Are you getting results?

Did you answer “no”? Then you should find a different organization or change how you’re working.

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Comments

Our mission statement doesn’t have the word “just” in it, or any other modifier. Our vision is lofty, however, with the aim of impacting every student in the state. When writing grants or thank you letters, I do say that we are “striving to” accomplish this or that, and that donors are “helping” do this or that, in order to maintain integrity and not claim that we are already accomplishing things that we haven’t already accomplished.

Well, the just was an example of tics many of us use in everyday speech. But my point about the others is this: are you accomplishing your mission? That doesn’t mean you’ve got the problem solved. But it means you’re actively solving it. So are you affecting students now? Are you enriching lives now? Then you’re already accomplishing! You don’t need to try to, you’re doing it.

Does that make sense?

And donors? Of course, they’re helping – and doing. Give them all the credit you can at every opportunity!